Shetlanders fight to stop deportation of islander

Thousands of Shetland islanders have joined a campaign to stop the deportation of a Thai-born islander taken from his home in a dawn raid by immigration officials.

Sakchai Makao, 23, who has lived on Shetland since he was 10, was arrested at his flat in Lerwick last week as part of a crackdown on foreign nationals who have committed a criminal offence. The champion triple jumper, who has represented Scotland in athletics, served eight months of a 15-month sentence for fire raising in 2004. His visa gives him indefinite leave to stay in the UK.

Islanders accused the Home Office of using Sakchai as a scapegoat. Last night residents gathered in Lerwick for a rally and to launch a fundraising campaign. He is currently being held in Durham prison.

At least a third of Shetland's population have signed a petition in support of Sakchai, a lifeguard at a leisure centre, and politicians, lawyers and clergy are working to secure his release pending appeal.

"The strength of feeling is unprecedented that this boy has been treated utterly unfairly and despicably," said David Gardner, campaign coordinator. "He was spirited away. He is being treated on a par with a person arrested as a terrorism suspect. The community has risen to support him. We hope common sense and humane justice will apply. He is a Shetland boy."

Sakchai's sister, Uthai, visited him in prison and said he was bewildered.

Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat MP, said the Home Office had not given proper consideration to the case. He said immigration officials maintained Sakchai would be able to readjust to life in Thailand, even though he had no family there and could not speak the language.